Episode 33: Orc Colony"We're changing plans. It seems the Drake will soon leave its nest. Let's proceed with hunting the Drake today."
The day of the hunt arrived. The Advanced Hunter suddenly changed plans.
"Huh? So suddenly?"
The Party Leader looked flustered. She apparently hadn't received any prior notice either.
"Yes... You've all grown considerably, and as I just explained, the Drake seems ready to leave its nest. Though earlier than scheduled, we'll hunt today. I've brought all necessary supplies."
He lifted a large, heavy-looking cross bag.
He'd come fully prepared. The man meant business.
"Understood... Since you're the leader now, Jeongsu-nim."
The Party Leader acquiesced without suspicion.
This party wasn't remarkable enough to attempt anything grand - if they'd wanted to try something, they'd have done it long ago.
"Here. You're still just a Porter. No complaints - carry the load."
The Party Leader took the bag from the man and irritably shoved it at Seol-hwa.
Seol-hwa would have shouldered the backpack herself if left alone, but they'd hurriedly pushed it onto her.
'Just endure this last hunt and we'll never see them again.'
Seol-hwa silently shouldered the backpack.
"Why'd you bring weapons if you're just staying in the rear?"
The Party Leader sneered upon spotting the Greatsword strapped behind Seol-hwa's backpack.
The Greatsword was Isia's gift, prominently displaying the Myohaengseong Guild's logo.
"Showing off? Want to flaunt how you've climbed higher than us now?"
"Hah, I wonder how long a talentless climber like you will last there, riding on luck."
Jealousy erupted as she mocked Seol-hwa. The Orc Healer who always disliked Seol-hwa chimed in supportively.
Fucking annoying. Seol-hwa might tolerate it, but watching this pissed me off.
"No more talking from here."
We'd left the outer zones behind.
Upon reaching the Mid-Level Zone's entrance, the forest grew denser and the air changed.
Heavy and stifling. It felt like being transported to the oxygen-rich Jurassic period.
Duo took point, leading the way.
Despite suspicious behavior, their broad backs leading the march felt reassuring.
Monsters appearing before us were instantly crushed by Duo's hands.
Their preternatural senses detected monsters before emergence.
The party's only role was silently following behind.
We never even gripped our weapons.
'Following well.'
The Hive followed hundreds of meters behind us. With Duo clearing the path, monster attacks became rare.
Thus we easily breached the Mid-Level Zone.
"We've arrived. Near the Drake's nest."
The Male Hunter stood, brushing dirt from his hands.
"But all I see is an Orc Colony?"
"Ah... Apologies. Seems Orcs have settled here recently."
"Possible? For high-tier monsters?"
"Occasionally happens when higher-tier monsters hole up to heal injuries."
This was the monsters' world.
A convergence of hundreds to thousands of Dimensional Gates.
More monsters appeared than died here.
Returning tomorrow to hunt would find monsters already respawned.
Like a game with broken respawn rates. Without periodic purges, Low-tier Monsters could infest high-tier monsters' territories.
"...Understood. How will you proceed? Clear them first?"
"We'll wait. Fighting when the Drake might interfere would be troublesome."
The man declared, initiating a tedious wait.
The midday sun crept westward. Though an isolated, alien space, day still cycled here.
"Squeeeee!"
Late lunchtime arrived. As we starved awaiting battle, opportunity came.
Part of the Orc Colony emerged weapon-in-hand.
Going hunting.
"Manageable now."
The Male Hunter rose.
"Guard the Rearguard."
His orders matched the party's original assignment.
Blocking mobs during combat.
Their unreliable skills were better than nothing.
The Party Leader nodded trustingly. Frankly, I doubted them.
"Fireball."
Hwaran launched her prepped spell. A crimson Flame Sphere soared.
Boom.
The explosion erupted at the village center. Black flames roared skyward.
"Squeeek! Our homes burn!"
Screeching Orcs spotted Hwaran.
"Squeeeeek! Home-burners!"
Enraged Orcs charged. Dozens of blazing eyes approached.
A sight that chilled one to the bone.
"Hup."
With a shout, several eye-pairs extinguished.
'Could Seol-hwa do this?'
An incredible technique. His blade moved invisibly.
Quickeness pushed to extremes.
Each swing slew multiple Orcs.
Party members stood idle. Their role: spectate.
Half the colony burned.
"Evil humans!"
Remaining Orcs made their last stand, barricading in the largest building.
"Burning. We burn. Our flesh burns."
A foolish choice. They burned alive.
Crimson flames licked the sky.
"Colony burns."
"Humans killed kin."
Orcs appeared behind us - the hunting party returning upon seeing flames.
"Shit..."
Duo panicked. The Orcs emerged behind Seol-hwa's exposed back.
"Party Leader!"
"Why worry? She's armed."
The Magician looked to the Party Leader, who remained passive.
Orcs closed in amidst indifference.
'Ignored intentionally?'
This man detected approaching monsters mid-combat. Impossible he'd miss them post-battle.
I recalled snakes testing prey by coiling around them.
Two weeks of playing nursemaid was likely evaluation time - assessing whether they could digest Seol-hwa.
'Then I'll give you an estimate.'
Curious.
Duo's aura felt similar to mine. That inhuman quality absent in humans.
A contradictory blend of human and monster.
Perhaps Kin like me parasitized Duo.
"Seol-hwa, draw your Greatsword."
I equipped the Trait, dialing stats slightly below full power.
Have it your way.
Hostile Kin would die. Friendly non-Kin could ally.
Swish.
The Greatsword moved. Orcs bisected.
* * * *
"Why..."
Lee Mi-ae gnawed her nails. Fury and injustice boiled within.
She hated how people focused on an F-grade nobody instead of her.
Detestable. She loathed that bitch receiving undue attention.
She glared at Seol-hwa.
Even the vacant way she watched combat was irritating. Everything about her grated.
The Greatsword on Seol-hwa's back stoked her fury higher.
The Myohaengseong Guild logo made her blood boil.
She wasn't inferior to that bitch - in fact, superior in many ways.
Yet she couldn't comprehend why Isia chose her.
'Why?'
She barely contained her seething rage when-
"Squeeeeek!"
Returning Orcs appeared behind Seol-hwa.
Weapon-swinging distance.
Mi-ae rejoiced. A perfect opportunity.
If that bitch died here, it'd be labeled an accident. She'd just claim nobody expected Isia's favorite to fall to mere Orcs.
"Party Leader!"
The Magician's scream demanded intervention. Mi-ae ignored it.
She anticipated the coming spectacle. But reality betrayed her.
"How's she fighting so well?"
The Greatsword moved. Orcs split apart. Swung like autumn leaves, the horde fell.
Many weaklings or few elites - the outcome remained identical.
All fell before her blade.
Mi-ae had seen this before-when Advanced Hunters fought.
Overwhelming strength. Unreachable heights.
The former Porter had ascended there.
'...They were right...'
Her shoulders slumped, defeated. Jealousy couldn't even surface.
She had to concede.
Isia and the Advanced Hunters saw true.
Seol-hwa possessed power worthy of attention.
The Party Leader alone accepted this.
'I'll disappear after this hunt.'
But she never considered apologizing. She'd lay low for months before joining a new party.
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